Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Fullerton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 23°F
Households earn $15,306 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $522k less ($268,800 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $771/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,989)
66% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.7%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $15,306/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$15,306
$99,279 vs $83,973/yr
Fullerton
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
66% lower
154.0 vs 455.3 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$522k less
$268,800 vs $791,000
Rochester
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Fullerton wins 7 and Rochester wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Fullerton to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $268,800 median home), income ($99,279 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Rochester, MN are about 1,528 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.